Why should you motorize your gate?

If we recommend motorizing your gate, it’s because we know it will simplify your life, no matter what type of gate you have! With motorization, your daily life gains in comfort and security when it comes to accessing your home.

You realize it every day: opening your gate manually is a huge waste of time, especially when you’re getting in and out of your car every time. And don’t forget: when you have a gate that isn’t motorized, you don’t always close it, either when you arrive in the evening or when you leave in the morning!

There are three main types of gate operator:

• Operators for swing gates ;
• Underground operators for swing gates ;
• Sliding gate operators.

To install your motorized gate, you’ll need access to electricity. Most of the time, to motorize a gate, you connect it to your electrical installation. Pull out the cables and bury them. If you have a large plot, be sure to budget accordingly. Alternatively, you can opt for a solar power supply, which is no less reliable. Solar gate motorization is less expensive, if you consider the budget required to dig a trench and run cables.

What criteria should you take into account when choosing your motorization?

The size of your gate and its operating criteria

In the motorization section of your DIY superstore or online, keep several pieces of information on your gate to hand:

• • Size. This is the first criterion to consider. If your gate is too large, you run two risks: firstly, the motorization may not be able to operate the leaves; secondly, the motorization may not be powerful enough in strong winds.

• • Weight. If you read the instructions, you’ll be reassured: it’s rare for gates to reach the maximum weight supported by the operators installed on the market. Take a little margin, especially if you’re in a windy region.

• • The distance between the hinge and the edge of the pillar. This is essential if you want to install your motors correctly. Measure the distance between the edge hinges and the surface where the motors will be hung.

• • Solid or openwork casements. A full casement has a high wind load and is heavier, but not all motors match. An openwork casement, on the other hand, has partial or full bars. They’re lightweight, so don’t forget the accessible reinforcement bar for motor mounting.

• • The reinforcement bar. It is integrated into the frame of the gate itself. It must be thicker than the gate body to support the motor mounting. Attach it to a thick part of your leaf.

• • Newer gates are usually fitted with this reinforcing bar at the factory.

Possible options for your motorization

The more precisely you diagnose the access to your home and its specific features, the more likely you are to be able to buy a motorization adapted to the entrance to your property. Options are sometimes fitted to these engines.

• • Self-locking motor. This device controls the gear. This means you can’t manually operate your leaves. If you need this feature, you must systematically disengage the motors and disconnect the worm from the gear system.

• • Mechanical limit switch. Only available on sliding gate operators. This is a contactor connected to a specific point on the circuit board. This contactor, if touched by any element on the rack rail, stops your gate immediately.

• • The ground stop. Also called integrated stop. A gate motor can’t stop in the right place by itself, so there are several systems to help it find its stopping point. If the cylinders know how to stop at the end of the carriage’s travel, this mechanism is not enough. Floor stops are used to mark the point where gate movement is to be stopped.

• • Some manufacturers offer integrated stops, which are placed on the motor itself and stop the movement of the arm or carriage.

• • With integrated stops, you don’t need a floor stop.

Questions you should ask yourself before buying a motorization

• • Are your leaves operated inwards or outwards?

• • How will you use your motorization, and how often?

• • How is the motorization powered: 230V, power supply to be installed, solar kit?

• • What are the opening controls: remote control, coded box, key, badge, connected?

• • Depending on your preferences, take a look at the opening speed of your motorization.

• • A cylinder system is best suited to small spaces and lightweight gates. For all other types of configuration, we recommend an arm motorization system.